DPWH Personnel deployed in Barangay Labi, Bongabon. Contributed photo
CABANATUAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways deployed heavy equipment and personnel to quickly respond in event of mudslide or landslide as light rains brought by Typhoon Maring started to fall at noon Monday.
Engr. Eulogio Pesa, maintenance point person of Nueva Ecija 2nd Engineering District, said all their “quick response assets” are ready to conduct road clearing operations once necessitated.
One of their concerns is the Labi Section of Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road in Barangay Labi, Bongabon.
It can be recalled that the said portion of the national highway has been closed to traffic due to massive landslides in September.
“We need to prepare for the possible impact of this typhoon. Last month, some sections of Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road were impassable for several days due to landslides triggered by heavy rains caused by typhoons Kiko and Jolina,” said DPWH Central Luzon director Roseller Tolentino.
“We have instructed our district engineers to deploy their disaster management teams in the identified hazard-prone areas in their respective areas of jurisdiction so that they can respond immediately in case they need to conduct clearing operations,” Tolentino added.
Meanwhile, Aurora district engineer Roderick Andal reported that their resources have been prepositioned near the detour road at the Diteki River.
“We are anticipating that the detour road may be again affected by the rising water in the Diteki River if there will be continuous heavy rains in the area,” Andal said.
